Thursday, July 21, 2011

A Monopoly Divided

We can all thank Theodore Roosevelt for the anti-trust laws that protect the American consumer against monopolistic and anti-competitive business practices. But do corporations ever form duopolies or triopolies and simply accept their staggered profit margins? Perhaps...




As I observe the apathy and lack of willingness of other fast food restaurants to try and compete with McDonalds, I can't help but wonder whether if large-scale corporations ever "call a huddle" and sit down to decide industy-leader positions. I mean, do the high-ups of McDonalds invite the executives of Burger King, Taco Bell, and Wendys to get together on some sort of corporate conference call and just say, "Hey, look guys...let's let McDonalds be number one. In return, they'll deal with media and Hollywood barrages on the Fast Food industry, smiling and waving with their overpaid lawyers." After a billionaire-baronesque puff from the cigar, the McDonalds executive representative would continue, "and as for Burger King and Wendys...you two can dish it out for second. Taco Bell, since the burger market is occupied by 3 of us, we can't risk letting you compete with us, so no breakfast menu. Ok?".

What do YOU think? Are corporations this sneaky? Would you put it past them?

18 comments:

  1. hahah it's a interesting idea, but I'll not leave my lovely mcdonalds even if burger king grow bigger <3

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  2. I doubt it.
    The cake is big enough for them to not care if they're first or last in the chain, as long as they get that chunk of the cake.

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  3. Hmm.. interesting. Who knows what large corporations do. You can't trust any of them!

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  4. burgerking is terrible so mcdonalds forever

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  5. There is no doubt in my mind that this country is run by corporations

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  6. I think any large corporation that's able to compete with McDonalds would do just about anything to get their share. They've been ripping off each other for years and I don't see an end to it any time soon.

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  7. I do not really care. I don't eat at those places. :P

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  8. I wouldn't put anything past them, but I don't think they make those short of "deals".

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  9. This reminds we about that movie starring Matt Damon where the two companies work together to increase their stock for one time, and then increase the other companies stock at another. So I would believe yes things like this happen. Great with the blog man!

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  10. there might be some competition but mostly it will be just as you wrote. i dont think that those companies would try to fight each other while having an armistice would be better for all of them. The fear of loosing everything could make "smaller" cooperations give into that situation.

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  11. I don't think it works that way, but that's in interesting idea nontheless

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  12. HEY MAN YOU'RE RIGHT! Taco bell needs a damned breakfast menu. good post.

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  13. unfortunately, I think you're 100% right

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  14. at this point burger king and others are earning quite good money, and probably going to war with mcdonalds would cost more than they could gain by doing it.

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  15. It wouldn't surprise me, but I don't really care about these companies, so hard to tell.

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  16. Mutual benefits...no way they would do that.

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  17. I wouldn't put it past any big corporation, but I don't eat fast food much so I guess it doesn't affect me as much

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  18. I doubt that there is arrangement of that sort. These are capitalistic companies doing what-ever they can to get or stay on top. That is the name of the game.

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